ISIL 'launches fierce new assault' on Kobane

Kurdish fighters hold the line but struggle as they await reinforcements to cross from Turkey.

22 Oct 2014 01:50 GMT

Kurdish forces are awaiting reinforcements to help in the battle for Kobane [EPA]

Kurdish fighters in the battle for the Syrian town of Kobane weathered a fresh onslaught by fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as they awaited promised reinforcements from Iraq.

The Kurdish militia faced fierce attacks on Tuesday, fresh from heavy battles on Monday evening in which ISIL appeared to be trying to cut off the border with Turkey before the reinforcements could arrive.

This account is according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, who also reported that coalition forces carried out further air strikes overnight, following weeks of attacks in and around Kobane.

Ankara's announcement on Monday that it would facilitate Kurdish forces from Iraq crossing its border with Syria to relieve Kobane's beleaguered defenders marked a major shift of policy and was swiftly welcomed by the US.

Kobane has become a crucial symbolic battleground in the war against ISIL, which is fighting to extend areas under its control in Iraq and Syria, where it has declared an Islamic "caliphate" that has not been widely-recognised.

An influx of well-trained Peshmerga fighters into Kobane could be a major boost for the Syrian Kurds.

Iraqi Kurdish officials have said they would provide training, although any forces sent would be Syrian Kurds.

The US has also stepped up its commitment to the town's defence in recent days, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying it would be "irresponsible" and "morally very difficult" not to help.

Botched airdrop

Three C-130 cargo aircraft carried out what the US military called "multiple" successful drops of supplies early on Monday, including arms provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq.

ISIS claims to have cache of weapons from US

However, ISIL fighters reportedly seized one cache of the airdropped weapons that included hand grenades, ammunition and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

The Britain-based observatory said the armed group had seized at least once cache amid heavy wind, but could have captured more.

Syrian Kurdish officials have been lobbying Western governments for support, arguing their fighters are secular, relatively moderate and opposed to ISIL.